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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Mexican Chocolate Brownies

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Food for themed get-togethers rarely causes a problem for a host or hostess, though dessert can occasionally be a challenge. It would be a bit ludicrous to serve flan with football fare, so over the years I've found or developed recipes a bit more fitting for these informal gatherings. My dessert plans for our Southwestern-style Super Bowl gathering, include a moist fudge-type brownie made with Mexican chocolate and ground chiles, and a homemade dulce de leche ice cream that I'll serve with a salted caramel sauce. I'll save the recipe for the ice cream for another day and just concentrate on the brownies tonight. Mexican chocolate can be difficult to find, so rather than rely on the vagaries of the market place, I use a recipe whose ingredients create a reasonable facsimile of the real deal. I think most of you would agree that brownies are among the easiest desserts that can be made. This one is no exception. My recipe for Mexican chocolate brownies is inspired by one that appeared in Gourmet magazine over 15 years ago. While it is not my favorite brownie, it is my favorite for Mexican or Southwestern themed events. I've simplified the original recipe by using store-bought almond meal, and I have added a small amount of ground chili to give the brownies an authentic flavor punch. The chocolate-chili combination is not unusual in Mexican desserts and the flavors work well together. Do not use your standard chili powder to make these brownies. It contains cumin and other additives that don't work well with the chocolate. If you cannot find a New Mexico or an Ancho chili powder, a very small amount of cayenne pepper can be substituted. These brownies are dense and moist and almost like a confection. I think they are deliciously different. I hope you will too. Here's the recipe. Mexican Chocolate Brownies...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, inspired by Gourmet Magazine

Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan, knocking out excess flour. Set aside.2) In a heavy 1-1/2-quart saucepan melt butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring, until smooth. Remove pan from heat and let chocolate cool for 10 minutes.3) Combine almond meal and sugar in bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Stir mixture into chocolate mixture. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with a wooden spoon until mixture is smooth and glossy. Stir in flour, salt, cinnamon and chili powder until just combined.4) Spread batter evenly in pan and bake in middle of oven 25 to 30 minutes, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering to it. Cool brownies completely in pan on a rack before cutting into 16 squares. Brownies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container at cool room temperature. Yield: 16 brownies.

Mmmm, I love brownies. Thanks for stopping by, Mary. I wish it were that easy, making the mess on the counter an excuse not to cook but it does not work. Hubby and I still have to eat so I make a little room on the counter to work on my ingredients....Christine

Yes, I'll have the whole pan, thank you!! I love mixing chocolate with the spice from the chili powder. It just adds something wonderful to the already yummy chocolate!!I wish I lived closer, I would invite myself over :)

I'm with you-- anything involving chiles and chocolate isn't necessarily my favorite thing, but these would go SO well with a themed dinner! Cinnamon with chocolate is TOTALLY a flavor combo I love, though!

Recently, I have been adding cinnamon to almost all my chocolate recipes and sometimes, I sneak in some pepper. Chile sounds as if it might be even, a better idea. I have never made Mexican brownies but I know I will like them.

Mexican Chocolate Brownies and a Southwestern-style Super Bowl party! I am so there. I bet they would be outstanding on top of a big "bowl" of Mexican Fried Ice Cream! Although, homemade dulce de leche ice cream sounds pretty darn good too!

Oh my goodness I am drooling! I am ALWAYS searching for Mexican hot chocolate and/or spicy dark chocolate bars...these are a MUST MUST try. And I am not a big baker but for these...I'll glady take the risk!

Mary, thank you so much for your very kind comment about my photographs and blog. It comes at the perfect time as on Saturday I'll be trotting off to the farmer's market as a vendor for the first time in a few years. The only change will be that I'm selling photography this time and I've been feeling a little nervous about it, so thank you.

I'm looking forward to trying these brownies. I'm an unabashed chocolate lover. I had a bad experience with a spicy chocolate before but I do like that your brownies have just a hint. I'm looking forward to making them!

While I'd admittedly most likely be a bit more intrested in the dulce le leche ice cream, I'd definitely have to try a bite or two of these just to experience the chili and chocolate combination! With the sounds of the spread you will be serving, your guests are some lucky people.

Oh my goodness, you read my mind, Mary...I just made brownies today! I wish I had seen your recipe before I made mine because I love the spices in yours! Thanks for the idea, I'm bookmarking for the next time I make brownies!

Mary, if you find Mexican chocolate hard to find where you are, I think it would be near impossible to find any here in Cornwall. I do like a bit of chilli in my chocolate and chilli brownies are on my list. I have a recipe for a Mexican chocolate pudding which I have yet to try too. Yours look delicious.

Mary, I have been searching for THE recipe for chilli chocolate brownies.. we had them for the first time on our honeymoon in an out of the way restaurant in Hanalei on Kauai, Hawaii (and how exotic chilli chocolate seemed to us Brits then!) and you know what? I think this may be what I have been searching for. Yippee!

I found a store in London where they sell all these mexican goodies, but I relocated to Hull UK. Im struggling to find a store over here to get that, does anybody know a store in Hull or even Leeds, Manchester where I can get mexican chocolate, chili, etc? I cannot live without them lol. cheers!!

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